Denying Climate Change Is a "Joke"
The summit began with Bill Clinton coming out swinging. Kicking off the first day’s panel on climate change, the former president addressed U.S. opponents of global warming. “You can’t win the nomination for one of America’s major parties if you admit the scientists are right?” he asked, chiding American politicians for making the U.S. “look like a joke.”
Women as Peacemakers
How can war-torn countries break the cycle of violence? On Tuesday former secretary of state Madeleine Albright and peace activist Leymah Gbowee led a panel for peace, where they shared stories of activism in the face of adversity. Gbowee spoke about hardships in her native Liberia and how the women of her community worked together to elect the nation’s first female president.
Legendary Activists Say "I Love You"
An impromptu exchange of “I love you” from two of the world’s most influential human-rights leaders, Desmond Tutu and Aung San Suu Kyi, sent the room into fits of laughter.
Obama on Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
President Obama took his “pass this plan” campaign to the global stage, touting his American Jobs Act to the world leaders in the audience. “The single most important thing we can do for the global economy is to get our own economy growing again,” he said.
Chelsea Clinton Takes Center Stage
Technology plays a vital role in economic empowerment, and former first daughter Chelsea Clinton led the panel on the topic. From cooking stoves for the developing world to recognizing the impact of women’s roles in movies, the panel kept a tone of humility while swapping ideas.
The Clintons’ Call to Action
The Clinton triad united for the final event of the summit, with Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea appearing together on stage. The former president urged young people not to “cop out,” before ending on an uplifting call to “create a whole different future.”